Automobile body reconditioning machine



S 2, 1950 R. D. ENGLEHART 2,522,167-

AUTQMOB ILE BODY RECONDITIONING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. R. D. ENGLEHR RT Sept. 12, 1950 Filed Dec. 6,1948 R. D. ENGLEHART AUTOMOBILE BODY RECONDITIONING- MACHINE 3sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

R. D. ENGLEHH RT Sept. 12, 1 950 R. D. ENGLEHART 2,522,167

} AUTOMOBILE BODY RECONDITIONING men-11m:

Filed Dec. 6, 1948 a sheets-sheets I INVENTOR. RD. ENG/.EH/IRT BY WZMMWPATENT we AUTOMOBILE BODY RECONDI'I'IONING MACHIN T RichardD.'Englehart, Davenport, Iowa, assignor to Bee-Line Company, Davenport,Iowa, at co'- partnership ,Application December 6, Natl-Jul 3 1 Claim.(01, 153-32) My present invention relates to the reconditioning of thebodies of motor vehicles which have been injured, as by being in anaccident. It is well known that the bodies of automobiles become more orless seriously bent and dented when in accidents, and that they thenneed to have the bends and dents removed in order that the cars may havea presentable appearance. It was therefore my purpose todesign a machinewhich can be used as an accessory to a machine already in use in theautomobile field in working upon the frames and running gears of motorvehicles. It is also one of the objects of my invention to provide amachine which is adapted to support working elements, either outside orinside of an automobile, so that pressure can be applied in anydirection needed for the reconditioning of the body of the vehicle. Myinvention further comprises such objects, advantages, and capabilitiesas will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the structure disclosedherein.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof, v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a press such as used in working upon theframes and running gears of motor vehicles, with the subject matter ofthis invention shown as mounted upon the press;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the press shown in Fig. 1, with the presenttool-supporting means shown as carried by the press;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the hydraulic jack shown in Fig. 2, the samebeing shown as detached from the supporting framework; and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a modified form of this invention for usewith a different type of frame machine.

Reference will now be made in greater detail to the annexed drawings fora more complete description of this invention. The press shown in Figs.1 and 2 is of a well known type and may be fabricated from cylindricalpipe but is preferably made from channel irons with their open facestoward each other and their edges welded together to form rectangularchannels I. Cross channels 2 connect a plurality of the pipes I togetherat their ends so as to form a substantially rectangular frame. Brackets3 project downwardly from the ends of the frame and have lifting unitsconnected thereto to serve as hoists for raising the press frame. Theselifting units comprise wheels 5 mounted on axles 6 from which riselevers 4 which are pivotally connected to the brackets 3. Pivotallysuspended from the levers 4 is a platform 8 on which is mounted ahydraulic jack 9. The piston of this lack presses against the pressframe and causes raisingthereof'. Hence it will be seen thatthe presscan be 'adjustedas to height in order to get the supports of thisinvention at the proper elevation relatively to the car body.

Clevis-like members I!) are mounted on the tubes or rectangular channelsI of the press frame and are clamped thereto by tapered pins l I passingthrough holes in the bottom ends of the clevislike members Ill. Pivotmembers [2 extend through holes in the central parts of the clevislikemembers and may be rotated therein as needed. These pivot members 12have their upper ends slotted for the reception of abutment members l3which serve as supports for the tool-supporting frame members M whichhave holes in one end for the reception of an end of the angularabutment members l3. A pin [5 passes through and connects the parts l3and I6. Preferably, the arcuate frame members I4 extend outwardly beyondthe sides of the automobile, then upwardly, and then inwardly through adoor or Window, the parts being connected inside of the car by aconnector I! which holds them assembled. Tie-members I8 are verticallyadjustable on the arcuate frame members M and serve to tie them togetherso that they will be less liable to distortion than if each was standingseparately.

Clamps l9 surround the arcuate frame members l4 and may be fastened inplace thereon by means of set screws 20. The clamps I9 have outwardlyextending arms 2| for connection to the hydraulic jacks 22 which haveU-shaped mem bers 23 attached to the bases thereof and which areconnected to the arms 2| by pins 24 about which the jacks 22 may beturned. Also, the clamps I!) may be turned about the arcuate member l4,thus making it possible to exert force either outwardly or inwardly uponthe car body.

The structure shown in Fig. 4 is adapted for use with a frame machine ofthe type shown broadly by the Wochner Patent No. 1,907,925, except thatthe cross-beams are slidable longitudinally of the frame. The frame usedis one already old in the art, but unpatented. A plurality of supports25 support the frame members 2s on which the cross-bars 21, preferablythree or four, are arranged and adapted for sliding motionlongitudinally of the members 26. Such adjustment is desirable in orderto place the cross-bars 21 directly below the part of the body of themotor vehicle upon which it is desired to operate. From these cross-bars27 rise arch mem-v bers 28 which are securely fastened to the crossbars.These arch members 28 rise from the cross- .of this invention asdisclosed in thisspeciflcation V and as defined by the appended claim.

Having now described myinuentiom I claim: An automobile bodyreconditioning machine comprising a frame adapted to be positioned belowan automobile to be reconditioned, jacking means for raising andlowering said frame, sup

4 l ing outwardly from said frame below said automobile, thence upwardlyabout the sides 01' said automobile, and together with the ends thereofin proximity to each other within said automobile, means for joining theproximal ends of said units at a point within an automobile when thelatter is-imposition and jacking mpans adl'ustably sementioned jackingmeans for exerting pressure porting units detachably carried by saidframe and adjustable along said frame lengthwise of ,ianeautomobilepositioned,thereover saidlsupportlingiunitsbeingsemicircular1-inishaperand extendagainst an automobile sopositioned.

RICHARD D. ENGLEHART.

REFERENCES CITED mile-following references are of record in the stile ofthis patent:

' UNITED [STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l1993387 Smith Mar. 5, 1935 202,151,063 Weaver .2; Mar. 21, 1939

